Hi Fellow Houzz-ers! I just bought this house and am desperately in need of some advice from fellow Houzz members. As you can see, the living room is covered with outdated wood panels and a 1980s style built-in for old style TVs that are much smaller and deeper than modern flat screen TVs. The cabinets above and below make the room look outdated, too.

To modernize, I'm thinking of either painting the wood paneled walls white OR ripping out the wood entirely and painting the drywall white. However, I am stuck and don't know what to do about the outdated built-in to the right of the fireplace.

Would you:

A) fill in the built in area altogether and panel over it with new wood before painting ALL the wood in the room white? (The tv would then go on a modern style tv stand stand that sits on the floor to the right of the fireplace)

B) Rip out all the wood panels, drywall over the built in areas (painting all walls white) to get rid of the outdated built in?

C) do something else to modernize the too small / too deep / way outdated entertainment center? If so, what else could be done to make the room look more modern / contemporary?

Your advice and ideas would be much appreciated! :)

Sincerely,
One Stuck Homeowner